Petoskey school officials: Concerns about 'grinding' at dances will be addressed

October 19, 2012|Jamie Baumann - Staff Writer

PETOSKEY — The Petoskey Board of Education addressed complaints about inappropriate dancing during its Thursday meeting, which drew attendance of more than 150 people.

In response to complaints from students and parents concerned about inappropriate dancing at Petoskey High School’s homecoming dance, school administrators noted that they’re working with the school community to develop clear expectations for dances.

Quoting from the district’s vision statement, superintendent John Scholten said, “Our expectation is that Petoskey schools are a ‘special place for everyone.’ We don’t want our students to feel uncomfortable at a school dance.”

High-school principal Jim Kanine said that he and assistant principal Jon Wilcox have listened to the concerns.

“The issue of grinding at dances is one that high schools all over the country are dealing with,” he said.

Kanine has surveyed students in the school’s leadership program and discussed the issue with student leaders from each grade. The dance issue is on the Parent Advisory Committee agenda.

“I like to say that dance is a contact sport,” Kanine said. “There is appropriate and inappropriate contact, and we want our students to dance appropriately.”

School officials said that expectations and chaperone guidelines will be in place and communicated to students and parents before the Snowcoming dance on Jan. 26.

Board president Mary Ling thanked parents for bringing the issue forward and encouraged them to continue to be involved in the discussions.

Parent Greg Webster commended the board for taking on the issues of the high school dance.

“Petoskey is a special place to live. Our kids are wonderful. We love all our kids, and we can change the culture at the dances and make it more fun for everyone.”

The board’s audience on Thursday included numerous Petoskey High School students.

“We have a government (class) assignment to attend a board meeting and lots of kids decided to come to this one, because we are interested in the dance issue,” student Delaney Carlson said.

Also on Thursday, the board approved board goals and school improvement targets, and heard district audits and sinking fund expenditure proposals.

Scholten presented the board goals for 2012-2013 which include improving communication; improving student achievement, both academically and socially; and maximizing district resources for student learning.

“Video streaming is a good way to continue to communicate with our community,” board secretary Karen Morison said.

The district has just started to stream video on the Internet. The homecoming pep assembly and some sporting events have been streamed.

Auditor Doug Deeter from the Rehmann firm said that on the district’s annual audit and the federal funding awards audit, the firm rendered “unqualified” opinions, meaning that records accurately present schools’ financial picture.

“Kent Cartwright runs a tight ship with records all in good order,” Deeter said.

The entire audit is available on the school district’s website, petoskeyschools.org.

District chief financial officer Cartwright presented the sinking fund projects that are to be started during the 2012-2013 school year. These projects include roof sealing at Lincoln and Ottawa elementary schools; installing metal roofing, new windows and window sills at the middle school; roof repairs and new roof ballast at the high school; bleacher replacements at Curtis Field with ADA compliance work and a relocation of the concession stand.

At Sheridan Elementary School, classroom soffit venting will be corrected to solve heat loss problems and at Ottawa Elementary the fire alarm panel will be replaced to match the rest of the schools in the district.

Teaching and learning director Lynn Slanec provided information the school improvement process and how district goals and site instructional improvement goals were set. For 2012-2013, the district Teaching and Learning Council goal is to increase test scores in reading, writing, math, social studies and science by three standard score points.

“We set ourselves a high target so we can strive to excel,” Slanec said.

Expectations set by the council include: engaging students in every lesson, setting a minimum of 60 minutes of math per day in grades kindergarten through five; implementing the national Common Core Standards in every classroom, using technology to support learning, communication and data analysis; and focusing all site Professional Learning Community meetings on the national common core standards strategies and on student achievement.

More information on the school improvement planning and goals for both the district and individual schools can be found at: www.petoskeyschools.org/slanec.fl.m/aer_cal/.